WHERE DID THE LOVE GO?
Updated: Sep 24
When Loving the Students Is No Longer Enough
An Open Letter From an Educator Who Still Loves Teaching
I understand now why teachers leave.
For years, I heard people talk about teacher burnout, educators leaving the profession, and teachers reaching a point where they simply could not do it anymore. I understood it intellectually, but I do not think I truly understood it personally until now.
Because I am getting there.
And the hardest part to admit is that I still love teaching.
I love my students. I love watching young people learn, grow, discover what they are capable of, and accomplish things they once believed they could not do.
Those moments are still beautiful to me.
But I have found myself asking a question I never thought I would seriously consider:
When does loving the students stop being enough?
This open letter is my reflection on teacher burnout, educational leadership, school culture, accountability, student needs, and the growing weight being carried by educators. More importantly, it asks what must change if we truly want dedicated educators to remain in the profession.
This is not simply my story. It is a conversation I believe education desperately needs to have.
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